Abstract: Objective To investigate whether the HBV replication mouse model can be used for selection of anti-HBV drugs. Methods HBV replication-competent plasmid pHBV4.1 was transferred into male BALB/C mice by using hydrodynamics-based in vivo transfection. The mice were matched by body weigh, age and serum levels of Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg) and were devided into experiment group and control group (4 mice in each group) 24 h after transfection and were treated orally with entecavir and normal saline for three times at intervals of twenty four hours, respectively. HBV mRNA and HBV DNA replication intermediates in liver were analyzed by Northern and Southern Blot Hybridization, respectively. The serum HBsAg and HBeAg were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). Results The results of two indepent experiments showed that compared with the control animals, HBV DNA replicative intermediates dramatically decreased in the liver from the experiment mice. The levels of HBV mRNA from liver and the serum HBsAg and HBeAg , however, were not obviously different. Conclusions The inhibition effect of entecavir on HBV was detected in the HBV replication mice, suggesting that the HBV replication mouse model can be used for selection of anti-HBV drugs.

Key words: entecavir, hepatitis B virus, replication, animal model, hydrodynamics-based in vivo transfection